犬にとって大切なことはよく遊び、よく寝て、よく食べることです。
= Inu ni totte taisetsu na koto wa yoku asobi, yoku nete, yoku taberu koto desu.
= The important things for dogs are to play well, to sleep well and to eat well.
Hi everyone!
I am your guest teacher Silver Sensei.
We are going to study how to use にとって ( = ni totte) today.
How to form:
* noun + に ( = ni ) + とって ( = totte)
Basic pattern:
A は、B にとって～
= A wa, B ni totte ~
= A is ~ for/to B.
B→could be people /animals/ one’s body parts / group of people, organization or entity where someone belongs to
You just studied how to use に対して ( = ni taishite) with 烏虎先生 ( = Ukko Sensei)
Some people seem to have a problem knowing which one to use.
As we studied,
*A は B に対して～ = A wa B ni taishite ~ = A is ~ towards / against B
You talk about A’s action, attitude, feelings towards/agains B
(You focus on A)
*A は B にとって~ = A wa B ni totte ~ = A is ~ for B
You see things from the standpoint of B.
Ex. Silver先生にとって日本語は難しくない。
= Silver Sensei ni totte nihongo wa muzukashiku nai.
= Japanese is not hard for Silver Sensei.
Ex. マギーは私にとって大切な友達です。
= Maggie wa watashi ni totte taisetsu na tomodachi desu.
= Maggie is a precious friend to me.
Ex. 日本は私にとって第２の故郷だ。
= Nihon wa watashi ni totte dai ni no kokyou da.
= Japan is like a second hometown for me.
Ex. 今、何が自分にとって重要なことか考えないといけない。
= Ima, nani ga jibun ni totte juuyou na koto ka kangae nai to ikenai.
= You have to think what is the most important thing for you.
(Or I have to think what is the most important thing for me.)
Ex. キャンプは子供達にとって楽しい夏の思い出になった。
= Kyanpu wa kodomo tachi ni totte tanoshii natsu no omoide ni natta.
= Camping became a fun memory of summer for children.
Ex. 彼は私にとって兄のような存在です。
= Kare wa watashi ni totte ani no you na sonzai desu.
= He is like a big brother to me.
(Note: 存在 = sonzai means “existence, being”)
Ex. 二人にとって喧嘩することもたまには必要だ。
= Futari ni totte kenka suru kotomo tama niwa hitsuyou da.
= It is sometimes necessary for you two to fight with one another.
Ex. 朝シャン*は髪にとっていい点と悪い点がある。
= Asa shan wa kami ni totte ii ten to warui ten ga aru.
= There are advantages and disadvantages to washing (or shampooing) your hair in the morning.
(朝シャン* ( = asa shan) colloquial expression for 朝、シャンプーをすること ( = asa shanpuu wo suru koto ) shampooing in the morning)
****
★にとって ( = ni totte) + particle:
* にとっては ( = ni totte wa)
Let’s see:
I have my favorite toy and it is very important to me.
このおもちゃは私にとって宝物です。
= Kono omocha wa watashi ni totte takaramono desu.
= This toy is a treasure for me.
But I’m sure it is something worthless for other people.
→このおもちゃは他の人にとってがらくた (ガラクタ）です。
= Kono omocha wa hokano hito ni totte garakuta desu.
= This toy is junk for other people.
Now we can connect these two sentences showing the contrast.
→このおもちゃは他の人にとってはがらくた (ガラクタ）ですが、私にとっては宝物です。
＝ Kono omocha wa hoka no hito ni totte wa garakuta desu ga, watashi ni tote wa takara mono desu.
= This toy is junk for other people, but it’s a treasure for me.
You use a particle は ( = wa) after にとって ( = ni totte) to show the contrast.
Ex. あなた*にとってはどうでもいいことかもしれないけど、私には深刻な問題なの。(female speech)
= Anata ni totte wa doudemo ii koto kamo shirenaikedo, watashi ni wa shinkoku na mondai nano.
= This could be nothing for you but it is something serious for me.
Ex. 飲み会の参加費８千円は、学生にとっては高い。
= Nomikai no sankahi hassen en wa, gakusei ni totte wa takai.
= 8,000 yen for the drinking party is expensive for students.
Note: You can also say には ( = niwa) instead of にとっては ( = ni totte wa) in the example sentences above.
にとっては ( = ni totte wa) stresses the meaning of “for someone” more.
* にとっても ( = ni tottemo) : ~ is also ~ for ~
Ex. 彼を採用することは会社にとってもプラスになると思う。
= Kare wo saiyou suru koto wa kaisha ni tottemo purasu ni naru to omou.
= I believe hiring him will be a great advantage for the company as well.
Ex. 日本の暑い夏は人間(にとって）だけではなくペットにとっても大変な季節だ。
= Nihon no atsui natsu wa ningen (ni totte) dake dewa naku petto ni tottemo taihen na kisetsu da.
= Hot summers in Japan are a tough season not only for people but also for pets.
Ex. この携帯の料金プランは家族にとっても得らしい。
= Kono keitai no ryoukin puran wa kazoku ni tottemo toku rashii.
= I heard this cellphone plan is beneficial for my family as well.
Note: Again, you can also say にも ( = nimo) instead of にとっても ( = ni totte mo) in the example sentences above.
にとっても ( = ni totte mo) stresses the meaning of “for someone” more.
* にとっての ( = ni totte no) + noun
Ex. 私にとっての貴重な体験
= Watashi ni totteno kichou na taiken
= Precious experience(s) for me.
Ex. 彼女にとっての辛い時
= Kanojo ni totte no tsurai toki
= A hard time for her.
Ex. 夏休みに家族でハワイに行くのは子供にとっての夢だった。
= Natsuyasumi ni kazoku de Hawai ni iku no wa kodomo ni totte no yume datta.
= For our child, getting to go to Hawaii this summer with the whole family was a dream.
***
マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Silver先生、ありがとう！
= Silver Sensei, arigatou!
= Thank you, Silver Sensei!
みんなにとってこのサイトが楽しんで日本語の勉強ができる場所になればいいなって思います。
= Minna ni totte kono saito ga tanoshin de nihongo no benkyou ga dekiru basho ni nareba iinatte omoimasu.
= I hope this site becomes a good place for everyone to have fun learning Japanese.
***
I REALLY appreciate your support! サポートありがとう！ !
My supporters can access an audio file for this lesson on my Patreon page and some mini lessons and quizzes.
Audio File for this lesson
Quiz 対する( = taisuru) vs とって ( = totte)
26 Comments
Hello Maggie Sensei,
I am having trouble figuring who the subjects are in the following passage:
1. 若い人にとって、知らない人に声をかけるのは少し緊張します。
Is my understanding correct:
According to young people it is stressful to talk to a stranger.
2. 人に席を譲ろのは少し勇気がいります。
Is my understanding correct:
In order to give up your seat to another person takes courage.
3.「どうぞ」と声を掛けた時に、感謝のことばと笑顔が返ってくれば、つぎもまた譲ろうという気持ちになります。
Is my understanding correct:
The young person says dozo: then if he gets in return a thank you or a smile, then the young person would get a feeling of offering a seat in the future?
Who says どうぞ, the young person giving up the seat?
Also the 感謝のことばと笑顔 is this from the other person ( not young person, but the person who is being offered the seat??
4. だから、もし席を譲られたら、「その必要はない」と思っても、素直に座り、笑って「ありがとう」と答えてあげて欲しいと思います。
Who is being offered the seat, the reader?
If the reader is offered a seat, 「その必要はない
What is it referring toその必要はない? 感謝 と笑顔？or 譲？ I am lost here.
Also who is referred to by 素直に座り、笑って「ありがとう」と答えてあげて欲しい。?
Thx in advance
OK, I know you have many questions and I’d love to help you all but as I said I can handle 1~2 simple questions a day. お願いします🙏
1) According to によれば →For young people にとって
2) typo 譲るのは：It takes courages to ~
3) Your translation is right. (It doesn’t say young people in Japanese, though)
the person who offers the seat says どうぞ
And 感謝のことばと笑顔 = from the person who is offered the seat
4) Talking to the reader: If you are offered the seat, just sit there, smile and says thank you
I directed a question on Quora to your answer here regarding “ni totte”. Your pages are wonderful. Here is the link to my answer which is directly linked to your page here.
Bravo for your work.Excellent.
https://www.quora.com/What-is-meant-by-%E3%81%A8%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6-in-a-sentence/answer/Michael-John-Peterson?ch=10&share=a954eb92&srid=n1hB
Hello Peterson Michael J.
Thank you for your nice words! :)
I hope this lesson helps some people.
Hi @maggie sensee, i wanted to that before にとってalways comes a NOUN。。 can we put any adjective or verb before にとって。
返事して下さい。
Hi Laxmi,
Yes, you only use にとって with a noun.
Thankyou sensee🌸🌸
You’re welcome! 🐶 💕
Hello マギー先生！
I was wondering, for example- If me and a friend are working at a new place together-
I say to my friend「この仕事は私にとって難しい。」
how would i say-
“how is it for you?”
and
“I don’t know how it is for you (though).”
Hi Milk
In that case, you say
“how is it for you?”
* どうして？/(conversational)なんで (Why so?)
* どこが？
“I don’t know how it is for you (though).”
*なんでかなあ/どうしてかなあ
*どこがかなあ
(They are both conversational)
Dear Maggie Sensei,
how does にとって work in にとって代わる? I ran into it in a quote 「いつか奴らに取って代わる…いつか…。」(given translation is “One day I will replace them completely, one day…”). The idea that Xにとって means “from the viewpoint of X / for X” does not make much sense to me here.
Thank you
Hello NoxArt
取って代わる is a verb which means, to replace/to take the place of 〜 so it is different from ~にとって
There are many compound verbs in Japanese and 取って代わる (取る＋代わる） is one of them.
Hi Maggie!
I heard that this sentence is incorrect:
この仕事は私にとってできない
But this sentence is correct:
この仕事は私にはできない
Why the first sentence is incorrect?
******
In this 夏休みに家族でハワイに行くのは子供にとっての夢だった。
But can I say 家族と instead of 家族で ?
Hi Eliza
“私にとって+ adjective” defines the quality of work/ what the work is for you.
この仕事は私にとって＋難しい/簡単だ/大切だ/無駄だ (muzukashii/ kantanda/ taisetsu da /a waste)
This work is hard / easy / important / a waste for me.
You can also say には in the sense of “to me” but basically the same meaning.
**
Now, you use the particle に with a verb potential form.
私は言えません →emphasize 私→私には言えません。
私はできません。 →emphasize 私→私にはできません。
子供もできる →emphasize子供→子供にもできる
But you can’t use verb potential form with とって
私にとって言えない (wrong)
私にとってできない(wrong)
子供にもとってできない(wrong)
＊＊＊＊
When you do something in a group, you use で
You can use と as well. Here’s a nuance difference.
家族と行く to go “with family”
家族で行く to go in a group as a family.
Thank you!! I can’t imagine how long it would have taken me to understand にとって without your website. I didn’t even know it was used like a particle until I saw the link for it here.
よかった〜！
I’m glad to hear that! :)
im new to the website. Please don’t stop posting continue! i find it very helpful!
Hai! Ganbarimasu! 😊
Hi, maggie
Thank you for the lesson, it was very enlightening. But I have a question.
If I want to say: “If you, to whom short-term relationships used to be everything, want to get married, then maybe it’s time I grew up as well.”
Then should I say:「とって短い暇の絆がすべてだった絵は結婚したがるなら、ぼくもそろそろ成人しなければ行けんかもしれない。
I am REALLY interested in your answer.
Thanks for advance :)
HI Robert-again,
Hmm there could be many ways to say that but how about
ずっと短い付き合いばかりしてきた”あの” 君（あなた）が結婚したがっているのなら、僕も成長する時なのかもしれない。
(I translated the speaker is a man following your translation)
Note: You add “あの” to emphasize the surprised feelings. That person who used to ~
Is にとって similar to にしたら?
There are different.
You use にしては when you have certain idea of what comes before.
Topics + one’s idea
Ex. この子は５歳にしては大きい。
= konoko wa gosai ni shite wa ookii.
= This child is big for five years old.
The speaker has certain idea how big five-year-old children.
X この子は、５歳にとって大きい doesn’t make any sense.
You use とって
Topics (A) is ~ for (B).
Ex.このゲームは子供にとっては難しい。
= Kono geemu wa kodomo ni totte wa muzukashii.
= This game is difficult for children.
You are talking about how difficult the game is for children.
I have a lesson on にしては. Do you want to check it?
Thank you Maggie Sensei for the quick reply! Really appreciate it. Didn’t realise that you have a lesson on にしては. Will check it out.
Actually I’m still a little confused between にとって and にしたら(not にしては). I came across the following sentence:大きすぎる親の期待は、子供にしたら苦痛だ。
I still can’t really understand if にとってcan be used here or not.
Oh sorry. I misread your question.
You are right したら and とって are similar
大きすぎる親の期待は、子供にしたら苦痛だ。
大きすぎる親の期待は、子供にとって苦痛だ。
The translation is the same but you use したら (or してみたら） when you put yourself in the children’s feet, assuming their feelings and sympathizing them. とって: You conclude your opinion (maybe you assume their feelings, maybe you get the information somewhere else)
Hi!
In this sentence: 日本の暑い夏は人間だけではなくペットにとっても大変な季節だ why do you use ではなく and not ではない? What is the difference?
Also here: = Kanojo ni totte no tsurai toki
= A hard time for him
I think you meant to say her.
Hello Luna!
2)日本の暑い夏は人間だけではなくペットにとっても大変な季節だ
Q；why do you use ではなく and not ではない? What is the difference?
I am sorry. I don’t quite get your question.
人間だけではない instead of 人間だけではなく？ I used なく to connect the sentence.
Anyway, this sentence is from
日本の暑い夏は人間(にとって）だけではなくペットにとっても大変な季節だ
2) Thank you! It should be “A hard time for “her.”
I fixed it.